Trinity Rodman may have inherited athletic talent from her famous father. However, she’s made one thing abundantly clear: she is not defined by him. The rising soccer star and current U.S. Olympian recently called out a Wimbledon commentator who made an offhand reference to NBA legend Dennis Rodman.
She pointed out how it was done while discussing her presence in the stands during her boyfriend Ben Shelton’s tennis match. Unsurprisingly, Trinity wasn’t happy about the spotlight not being on her boyfriend.
Trinity Rodman Establishes That Her Father Dennis Rodman Isn’t A Part Of Her Life
It was a moment that struck a nerve for Trinity, who took to her Instagram Stories to set the record straight. “For Ben’s matches, he has his family there as his support system, which includes his dad,” she wrote. “My dad’s not even in MY life, no need to bring him up during HIS matches when I don’t even want him talked about during mine.”
She showcased a moment of vulnerability to ensure it wouldn’t be repeated. Additionally, the commentator’s comment wasn’t just a misstep; to Trinity, it felt like a repeated invasion of identity. This wasn’t about tennis, and it certainly wasn’t about basketball history. It was her standing up for herself. “It’s him and his loved ones’ moment,” she wrote about Shelton’s Wimbledon performance. “Thank you.”
Moreover, this wasn’t the first time Trinity had opened up about her complex relationship with her father. On a 2023 episode of Call Her Daddy, she shared how emotionally distant Dennis had been throughout her life. “He’s not a dad,” she said bluntly. “Maybe by blood, but nothing else.” In the same interview, Trinity revealed the emotional toll of maintaining silence for years.
“Me and my brother have been very generous with the way we’ve talked about it and very unselfish,” she said. “We never want to make him look bad, and that is at the cost of holding in a lot… trauma, per se.” All in all, it’s safe to say she’s an elite athlete in her own right, and she’s earned the spotlight without relying on her last name.
Trinity Rodman Has Her Own Legacy
It’s a common theme in the lives of celebrity children: no matter how hard they work or how brightly they shine, their names are often tied to their famous parents. However, Trinity Rodman isn’t just stepping out of Dennis Rodman’s shadow; she’s kicking it to the sidelines. Representing Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Trinity is one of the youngest stars in the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT).
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Moreover, she’s quickly become a fan favorite for her relentless energy and bold personality. Most recently, she helped lead the U.S. to a 3-0 victory over Zambia. Yet even with her success, the narrative surrounding her often circles back to her father. Despite the differences with her dad, she has acknowledged the athletic gifts she may have inherited.
“He was an amazing athlete, and I got those genes from him,” she told The O.C. Register. “I’m excited to be known as Trinity Rodman and not just Dennis Rodman’s daughter,” she said in the same interview. That’s part of why she fell in love with soccer in the first place. “Soccer to me, it felt like home,” she said. “I felt so comfortable playing, and I think I noticed that at a really young age.”
